ANCHORAGE/FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The final two games of the regular season arrive this week for the Western Oregon University men's basketball team when they travel to Alaska to face Anchorage on Thursday at 6:15 p.m. and then will travel to Fairbanks on Saturday starting at 4:15 p.m. Both start times are Pacific Time.
Following the road trip, the Wolves will then have just a few days to prepare for the GNAC Tournament that will begin on Wednesday, March 2. WOU is ranked ninth in the GNAC Points Rating System at the start of the week and doesn't include the win over the Vikings. The first round, seeds 7-10, will take place on the first day of the tournament.
WOU (6-16, 5-9 GNAC) is coming off of an impressive 89-65 win over Western Washington to close the home portion of the schedule. It also gave the Wolves a regular season sweep of the Vikings for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
On the season, the Wolves average 71.4 points, making 578-1,339 (43.2) from the field, 194-542 (35.8) from three and 220-292 (75.3) at the foul line. The Wolves average 32.2 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. Opponents average 77.2 points per game, making 643-1,369 (47) from the field, 171-466 (36.7) from three and 242-337 (71.8) at the foul line. Opponents also average 38 rebounds, 15.4 assists, 6.6 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
Cameron Cranston averages 18.8 points, along with 5.4 rebounds, 48 assists, 34 steals, 29 blocks, 149 field goals, 57 three-pointers and 59 free throws, averaging 37.4 minutes per game. Cranston leads the Wolves in points, steals, blocks, field goals, three-pointers, free throws and minutes per game. John Morrill-Keeler recorded his third double-double of the season against Western Washington and all three double-doubles have come in the month of February. He averages 11.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, along with 25 steals, 16 blocks, is shooting over 52 percent (95-181) from the field. He leads the team in rebounds per game and is one of just two players making over 50 percent from the field. Yosani Clay is averaging 9.9 points, along with 3.9 rebounds,45 assists and has made 82 field goals. Tyreek Price adds 7.8 points and 39 three-pointers, good for second on the team. Daisone Hughes is at 7.1 points per game, along with 35 assists. Qiant Myers leads the team in assists with 82.
WOU will see both Alaska teams for the first time season the beginning of December when the teams opened the GNAC slate against each other. The Wolves tallied a pair of big wins at home rolling to a 99-74 win over Alaska Fairbanks and then came back with an 80-71 win over Alaska Anchorage.
The Wolves will open the trip with Alaska Anchorage. In the previous meeting in Monmouth, Cranston tallied 23 points, Elihu Cobb added 16 points and Clay chipped in 11. WOU shot over 55 percent from the field and nearly 60 percent from three.
The Seawolves are 13-7 overall and 8-5 in GNAC play, going 9-0 at home this season. UAA won their past two games picking up a road win at Simon Fraser and then taking a home win over Fairbanks this past Saturday.
UAA is averaging 76.8 points, making 546-1,183 (46.2) from the field, 215-554 (38.8) from three and 229-313 (73.2) at the foul line. The Seawolves average 33.2 rebounds, 17.2 assists, 5.0 steals and 2.2 blocks. Opponents average 70.6 points, making 518-1,157 (44.8) from the field, 148-443 (33.4) from three and 228-286 (79.7) at the foul line. Opponents average 32.1 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 5.3 steals and 3.0 blocks.
Tobin Karlberg leads the team averaging 17.7 points, along with 4.4 rebounds, 51 assists and 32 steals. Oggie Pantovic adds 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds, shooting nearly 56 percent from the field. Hunter Sweet tallies 14.9 points and David Rowlands gives UAA four averaging in double-figures at 12.3 points.
UAA holds a slight 23-17 series advantage since 2002, with the Seawolves going 14-5 at home during that time. WOU has won the past two meetings, both played in Monmouth. During the last meeting in Anchorage, the game went overtime before UAA held on for the two-point win. The Seawolves have won the past two meetings in Anchorage.
WOU will then close the trip facing Fairbanks on Saturday. The Wolves rolled to a 99-74 win in the earlier meeting to start the conference season. Five players scored in double-figures with Clay leading the way with 22 points. Cranston added 18, Morrill-Keeler with 12, Cobb at 11 and Collin Warmouth with 10.
UAF is 7-13 overall and 4-10 in GNAC play, going 4-1 at home this season. The Nanooks have lost three straight games, playing two tight road games against Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene before falling by 23 last time out against UAA. The Nanooks were scheduled to host Seattle Pacific this past Monday, but that game was canceled.
UAF is averaging 75 points, making 524-1,208 (43.4) from the field, 160-421 (38) from three and 291-376 (77.4) at the foul line. The Nanooks average 33 rebounds, 12.5 assists, 6.7 steals and 2.5 blocks. Opponents average 77.6 points, making 574-1,248 (46) from the field, 164-480 (34.2) from three and 240-317 (75.7) at the foul line. Opponents average 36.3 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 6.2 steals and 3.6 blocks.
Shadeed Shabazz leads the team averaging 18.8 points, along with 4.4 rebounds, 46 assists and 52 steals. Quin Barnard averages 12.6 points and has made 65 three-pointers. Koby Huerta adds 10.3 points and 49 assists, while Coleman Sparling tallies 10.3 points and 8.5 rebounds.
WOU holds a 25-17 series record with UAF since 2002, going 11-8 in Fairbanks. The teams have split the past four meetings. During the last meeting in Fairbanks, UAF held on late for the six-point win. WOU won the meeting in Fairbanks before that by 17 points during the 2018-19 season.
Live video and stats will be available for both games.
For the game at Alaska Anchorage: Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here
For the game at Alaska Fairbanks: Live video can be found here and live stats can be found here
